Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan discussed the possibility of Armenia’s membership in the European Union and a potential exit from the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), emphasizing the need to manage the risks that may arise on this path.
Speaking at the Second Armenian Global Summit on September 18, Pashinyan stated: “Armenia does not intend to sever its ties with the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) or Russia. Armenia does not aim to reduce trade or cut economic ties with Russia and the EAEU.”
According to the Prime Minister, Armenia seeks to increase trade both with the EU and the EAEU, as well as other markets. He explained that Armenian authorities are working on diversifying the economy through cooperation with EU and U.S. partners.
Commenting on his earlier statement regarding Armenia’s readiness to move closer to the EU as far as the Union is willing, Pashinyan noted that this is part of a broader political vision. He stressed that EU membership is not a one-sided or even bilateral process.
The Prime Minister identified several key factors influencing Armenia’s potential EU membership: “The relationship between Georgia and the EU is crucial, and what happens there matters. The Turkey-EU relationship is also very important, as is how it evolves. In this context, Armenia-Turkey relations are also significant.”
Pashinyan highlighted that Armenia has chosen a path of democratic development, which will bring the country closer to the EU, the U.S., and Western partners in general.
“Essentially, I cannot rule out that if we see a realistic opportunity to become a full member of the European Union while managing the potential risks along the way, we will definitely seize that opportunity,” concluded Nikol Pashinyan.
Earlier, BMG reported that a petition had been launched in Armenia to hold a referendum on the country’s accession to the European Union. The initiative for the referendum was proposed by three pro-European political forces: the European Party of Armenia, the Republic Party, and the For the Republic Party.
Meanwhile, Armenian authorities have reacted differently to the referendum initiative.
Parliament Speaker Alen Simonyan supported the calls, suggesting that a referendum could be held in the near future, and predicted a positive outcome. However, in a surprising turn, Nikol Pashinyan, who had previously expressed Armenia’s desire to be as close to the EU as the Union allows, opposed the plebiscite, noting that there is currently no clear indication that the EU is ready to accept Armenia into its fold.
